Jack and His Seven Foes — page 109: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

100 ——$__—_—___—__ Hie got up and walked to and fro for a while in an agitated manner. The others remained silent. “Jacob,” he cried, at last, “are you too tired to go out to-night ?”’ “Am I ever tired in your service?” was the reply. And-you, Ben?” “YT am ready for anything, Master Jack. “Go, then, and bring me tidings of where these men are to be found.” His two followers rose, took their | rifles, looked to their revolvers, and | | stay there for a few days.” departed. “ You have not lost your fortune yet,” said Jack, kindly, to Daniel Smollet. “We will get it back for you, and avenge your comrades’ murder. “What can be done against so many ?”’ he asked. | ‘Wait and see,” said Jack. In a little while he went out softly, and walked to a spot that gave him a view of the plain by day. It could be seen plainly now, for the . air was still, and the heavens full of stars. Far away there was the reflection of a fire. “The camp of the Bowie Boys,” said Jack. ‘Ben and Jacob have an easy task before them. They will return ere the sun rises.” He went back and bade Daniel Smollet to rest. The man demurred, saying that he had not long been awake. "Do as 1 bid you,’ said Jack 3: “ you may want your strength to-morrow.” JACa AND HIS SEVEN FOES, The man retired, and Jack, havin thrown some logs on the fire, rolled — himself up in a rug, and lay down before it. In a little time he slept. Twice he awoke to replenish the fire, and slept again. The logs were smoulder- ing for the third time, when Ben and Jacob came In. Jack sprang to his fect, awake in a moment. “You have found them ?”’ he said. “They are encamped by the lee side of a wood, about six miles from here,” replied Jacob, “and they’re going to ““You overheard them say so?” “Yes; we crept up to within pistol- shot. It was late, but they were all drinking.” “ You saw the Swaggerer? ” “Yes, and the Panther, and that sneezing fellow, and that Yankee they picked up in New York. Oh, they are a bully band!” “Take three hours’ rest,” said Jack, “and we will go upon their trail.” “In daylight ? ”’ “Why not? There is cover for us to come up unseen ?”’ “ Plenty.” “Then what do we want more? When we get there, I will tell you what we will do.”’ They did not attempt to debate the question with him, although they thought he was rash. He was their leader, and they had sworn to obey him implicitly though he led to certain death. CHAPTER XXXIX. ACROSS THE PRAIRIE—LOST IN THE STORM-——A DREADFUL STILLNESS. At the time appointed, Jack and his three followers, Daniel Smollet making the third, went down Maple Mountain to the plain. The day was well advanced, but the sun invisible, for the sky was covered with murky clouds. The wind set the branches of the trees groaning, and altogether it was as cheerless a day as one would care to be out in. But they were all wrapped in thick pilot-jackets, and cared little for the cold; though the prospect of another downfall of snow gave Jack cause for some anxiety. “We shall have a storm, Jacob,” he said, as these two strolled on ahead. ‘Aye, dear lad, and a smart one,” replied Sturmby ; “what we are going to do had better be done quickly.”’ “The storm may help us,” rejoined Jack, calmly, “for we are few and they are many, and I trust in a surprise.” COMICDOOKS: EO SS nf) ‘